- Jesse Kortuem, a former high-level hockey player, publicly came out as gay and credited the series Heated Rivalry for inspiring him.
- Kortuem posted a full coming-out statement on Facebook and thanked the Cutting Edges Hockey Club after a recent Winter Classic in Sun Peaks, B.C.
- He described hiding his sexuality while playing in traditional locker rooms and said a gay tournament (SinCityClassic) changed his life.
- Kortuem urged closeted athletes to know there is hope and community waiting for them on the ice.
H2: Heated Rivalry inspires a real-life decision
A player who once stepped away from competitive hockey because he felt he couldn’t reconcile his sexuality and the sport has publicly come out. Jesse Kortuem says HBO Max and Crave Canada’s series Heated Rivalry helped spark the decision.
Kortuem told Out and posted on his Facebook page that seeing positive LGBTQ+ stories in the context of a traditionally masculine sport made him realize the locker room could hold more than he’d allowed in his own mind. See his Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/jesse.david.881027/
H3: From Minnesota hiding to speaking out
Kortuem’s coming-out statement traces his journey from growing up the youngest of four boys in Minnesota — “the State of Hockey” — to walking away from his high school team at 17. He wrote, “On the outside, I was still a top-tier player. On the inside, I was still that kid in Minnesota hiding.”
For years he played in adult leagues in New York and Atlanta while remaining guarded about his personal life. He said he routinely avoided conversations about relationships and would tell teammates he was single rather than risk disclosure.
H3: A turning point in Las Vegas
The turning point came in 2017 when Kortuem signed up at the last minute for the SinCityClassic, a gay sports tournament in Las Vegas sponsored by the LA Blades. There he met other gay hockey players and joined teams and communities from Vancouver (Cutting Edges), Toronto (Misfits), and across the U.S.
“From that moment forward, my life has never been the same,” he wrote.
H2: Community and gratitude on the ice
Kortuem thanked the Cutting Edges Hockey Club after playing at their Winter Classic in Sun Peaks, B.C., saying standing on the ice in a jersey that represented both sport and community felt like a bridge. He described the weekend as proof there is space on the ice for everyone.
He also addressed closeted athletes directly: there is hope, you are not alone, and it’s possible to find deep happiness by connecting with teams and events that welcome LGBTQ+ players.
H4: Why this matters to sports fans
Kortuem’s story highlights how representation in media and inclusive sporting events can change individual lives. Heated Rivalry’s success is resonating with players who have long felt they had to choose between identity and athletic community.
Kortuem’s message is simple and direct: the rink can be a place of belonging. For athletes still struggling, he urged patience, courage, and connection.
Tags: Jesse Kortuem’s coming-out post can be found on his Facebook profile linked above. Look for more coverage as other players and clubs respond to his announcement.
Image Referance: https://www.advocate.com/sports/heated-rivalry-real-hockey-player-coming-out
